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Even if you stay on top of your dental hygiene, eat a well-rounded, healthy diet, and regularly visit the dentist for checkups and cleanings, if you don’t have the right toothpaste, your teeth might not be getting the kind of care they need. While all toothpaste is formulated to keep your teeth healthy, depending on your specific dental needs, some will be better than others. Since a simple trip to the store for toothpaste can quickly become overwhelming with so many different options, in this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about picking the perfect one for your teeth.

Where to Start

Your dental health is important, and choosing the right toothpaste is one of the first steps to take when building a healthy routine. Rather than taking a wild guess at what kind of toothpaste you think would be best, scheduling a simple visit to the dentist can point you in the right direction and help you find out if you have any problem areas that need attention. This is especially true if you have sensitive teeth, allergies to certain toothpaste ingredients, or a tartar buildup problem.

Looking for the Essentials

With so many different brands of toothpaste, knowing what to look for can be a bit of a challenge. To quickly help you rule out some of the options, below we’ve covered the essentials that any toothpaste you’re considering should have.

The ADA Seal of Approval

The American Dental Association is a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to providing dentists and their patients with oral health related information. When it comes to picking the right toothpaste, you want to stick with brands that have the ADA seal of approval. This is because any brand can make claims about their toothpaste without necessarily testing them or checking for quality. With the ADA seal, you can have peace of mind knowing that all of the claims have been backed up and tested by dental professionals.

Fluoride

Fluoride has long been known for its beneficial dental properties and happens to be one of the most popular ingredients in toothpaste. In fact, it’s needed by the body even before teeth come through the gums to make enamel stronger and more resistant to decay. In toothpaste, fluoride can also help to rebuild damaged enamel and actually reverse the early signs of tooth decay. By brushing your teeth with a toothpaste that contains fluoride twice a day, you’re ensuring that your teeth have an ample layer of protection from acidic foods.

Different Types of Toothpaste

Once you narrow down your options to only toothpaste brands that contain fluoride and have the ADA seal, you can begin to look for one that addresses any problem areas you have. Below, we’ve outlined some of the most popular types of toothpaste that are formulated to handle a variety of common problems and complement a well-rounded dental routine.

Whitening

Plaguing almost everyone at one point or another, it’s natural for your teeth to lose their white radiance over the years. Whether it’s because of diet or just time itself, when your teeth begin to lose their natural color, whitening toothpaste is a great option. Often formulated with micro abrasives like carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, whitening toothpaste works to safely remove surface-level stains from the teeth and restore them back to their white appearance when used regularly.

Though they’re not meant to replace a visit to the dentist for a cleaning, it can help with maintenance and serve as an affordable in-home option. Because many of the leading toothpaste brands have a whitening formula, it ultimately comes down to personal preference, so don’t be afraid to try a few to see which you like best.

Sensitive Teeth

If you suffer from tooth sensitivity when you consume cold or hot foods and beverages, selecting a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth is a great option. This is a painful problem that is believed to affect as many as 1 in 8 adults. Though the exact cause will differ for everyone, tooth sensitivity can happen for a number of reasons including tooth decay, receding gums, a cracked tooth, or even a faulty filling that makes the nerves more susceptible to temperatures.

These types of toothpaste are specially formulated to strengthen enamel and desensitize the nerve endings. Over time and if you use the toothpaste on a consistent basis, you can manage to greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the symptoms of sensitive teeth. Though you should always work with your dentist to make sure the problem is not more serious, using a toothpaste specifically geared toward sensitivity can help support your other dental treatment plans.

Tartar Control

If you’ve ever had unsightly tartar buildup occur around the gums, you know just how difficult it can be to get rid of. Forming when plaque is left unchecked long enough to harden, tartar is typically found in difficult to reach places such as between the teeth and along the gumline. This can cause inflammation and even lead to periodontal disease when left untreated for a prolonged period of time.

The truth of the matter is, some people are more susceptible to tartar than others. Though this can be caused by things such as poor dental hygiene habits and a bad diet, it can also be the composition of your saliva! Tartar control toothpaste can be formulated with multiple anti-tartar agents in addition to fluoride to help break down plaque and prevent it from forming.

Closing Words

By now, you’re a toothpaste expert! At Inland Family Dentistry we understand just how important it is to have good dental hygiene habits at home, including the right kind of toothpaste. So, if you’ve never considered the type of toothpaste you’re using, now is a great time to evaluate your current selection to see if it’s meeting all of your needs. By taking the information you learned in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier mouth in no time.